SALT LAKE CITY — For the second straight season, the Utah Jazz are headed to the Western Conference semifinals.

With starting point guard Ricky Rubio out (he left the game with 4:52 left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury), the Jazz struggled offensively for most of the first half.

Donovan Mitchell led the charge as the Jazz rallied to tie the game at halftime and then built a double-digit lead in the third quarter. Mitchell was slowed by a fifth foul, but the Jazz held on to win 96-91.

Utah will play Game 1 of the next series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. MDT.

Turning point: With time running down in the second half, Donovan Mitchell made a driving layup to tie the game at 41-41 and give the Jazz momentum going into the second half.